The sun shone gently, casting a warm glow across the field. A soft breeze swept through, making tall grass shimmer like waves under a calm sea. Riko's quiet whimpers broke the peaceful silence, his lips trembled as wam tears slid down his hand.
"Riko, are you feeling better?" Shizo asked softly, her smile gentle and sincere.
Still clinging to Shizo's shirt, Riko felt a faint warmth spreading through him—like a fragile light pushing back years of pain and darkness. He didn't want to let go just yet.
"J-just… let me stay here a bit longer, Shizo," He whispered, his voice shaky.
I've never felt this much emotion before… not at all. It's like these feelings I've been holding for years finally escaped. I feel… finally free, after years of painful memories I carried along with me.
His voise steadided. A soft smile formed on his face, though tears still lingered in his eyes.
"Thank you, Shizo," he said quietly. "I'm glad to have such a kind friend like you."
Shizo's eyes widened as soon as the word friend escaped Riko's lips. "Friend…?" she whsipered, barely audible.
Shizo unexpectedly hugged Riko, her joy spilling over. "Me too, Riko! I'm glad to have a friend like you!" she shouted, her bright smile lighting up her face.
Riko, caught off gaurd, stared at her smile as she stepped back. It was as if the world itself had brightened—the wind brushing against his face, lifting strands of his hair.
A true friend is someone who never leaves another's side, no matter the cost. From the highest peaks to the lowest valleys, a true friend always looks out for you. Shizo… your smile is as bright as the sun itself, like a light piercing through my darkness.
Riko pushed himself back to his feet and extended his hand toward Shizo. "Shizo, do you want to keep playing?" he asked with a playful grin.
Shizo hesitated for a brief moment before placing her hand in his. "Sure!" she replied, her face lighting up with a bright smile.
That smile… it means a lot to me. He thought.
From this moment on, I'll make a promise to myself—no one, and I mean NO ONE, will ever take that smile away from her. I'll become stronger… strong enough to break my limits. I'll protect those I care dearly… and I'll make sure that I'll never make the same mistake ever again.
Riko and Shizo continued playing, laughing as they ran throught the fields. The sun bathed the village in a warm glow while a gentle breeze swept through. Laughing echoed, over time, the sun bagn to set, painting the sky with soft shades of orange and pink.
"Bye, Shizo!" Riko shouted, waving as he ran off.
"Bye-bye!" She called back, waving.
What a day… I finally made my first ever friend in this new life. Its been decades, since I last got had a friend. His name was Kaito Takahashi, my childhood friend. We always used to come over to each other's houses. He thought to himself, as nostalgia spreads all over him.
He was truly my best friend, until at the age of 20… he died in a car accident. I remembered when his mom called me she cried and cried. That cry, I–I really couldn't get it off my head. It like echoes infinitely through my mind.
As Riko walked home, exhaustion slowly crept up on him. He headed straight upstairs, calling out, "I'm home!"
"Welcome back, Riko!" Rimara greeted, clapping her hands together with a smile.
"Riko, aren't you hungry?" Ruther asked between bites of bread.
Riko froze for a moment before— grrrowl…
His stomach growled. "Uh oh," he muttered awkwardly.
Feeling his hunger catch up, Riko joined Rimara and Ruther for dinner. Yeah.. guess I'll grab a bite before I head to bed. He thought with a tired grin.
"On the second thought, guess I'll join ya." Riko said as he walks down the stairs.
"So, how did your day go?" Rimara asked, cutting her steak.
Riko paused to think for a moment, then he abruptly shot up from his seat, sparklinq with excitement. "IT WENT FANTASTIC! I made my first ever friend— her name's Shizo Heyveil! We played with magic together, and it was so much fun!" He shouted, his voice filled with childlike joy.
Startled by his sudden outburst, Ruther and Rimara exchanged amused glances. A Smirk crept on Ruther's face as he leaned back. "Oh did you now?" he asked, narrowing his eyes playfully.
"Do you like her or something, Riko?" Rimara teased, a mishchievous grin on her face.
Riko froze. His expression shifted instantly, his cheeks flushing bright red. You said what now? he thought, steam practically rising from his head.
"L-like her? Well, uh… I wouldn't say I like her, but I guess she is kinda cute." he muttered, shyly looking away.
"Oh, so you do like her…" Ruther chuckled, teasing him.
"Sure I guess you can say that…" Riko muttered, barely audible.
Ruther shot up from his chair, dramatically tearing up with pride as if Riko had accomplished something amazing. He marched over to Riko and patted him on the shoulders.
"MY SON IS GROWING UP SO FAST! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!" Ruther cried out.
"Huh?!" Riko gasped, startled by Ruther's sudden reaction.
"Look, Riko," Ruther began confidently, "how about I show you how to use your looks to your advantage? After all, you are my son, and I'm handsome—always getting compliments from women." He grinned proudly, his teeth sparkling.
"Dad… are you sure about that? Because… Mom's behind you," Riko pointed out, his face turning pale.
A bead of sweat slid down on Ruther's cheek. His eyes widened as his face turned pale, slowly turning around.
"So, Ruther dear.." Rimara said sweetly, a menacing dark aura swirling around her. "What exactly are you trying to say?" she asked, crushing her wooden spoon.
"OH, LOOK, I CAN EXPLAIN! I WAS TALKING ABOUT ME, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER—BERFORE I MET YOU!" Ruther stumbled back nervously as Rimara's shadow grew larger, creeping toward him.
Riko, terrified, quickly moved out of the way.
"Riko dear," Rimara said sweetly, her menacing aura swirling darker, "mind if you go upstairs? Your father and I are going to have a little chat."
Riko stiffened . "SURE! RIGHT AWAY, MOM!" he shouted, hurrying upstairs.
He turned to glance at Ruther, who was now frozen in fear as Rimara loomed closer. Ruther, I wish the best of luck… and I'll make sure to pray for you. He thought, visible tears sparkling in his eyes.
"WAIT, RIMARA! AHAHA—OW! OOF! GAH!" Ruther's screams echoed through the night as birds scattered away from the house.
Next morning…
Riko walked down the stairs, rubbing his eyes and mumbling half-asleep. He tugged on Rimara's sleeve.
"Mom… where's Dad?" he asked, looking up at her with tired eyes.
"Oh, good morning, honey! Your father's outside," Rimara replied with a soft smile.
"Oh, okay…" Riko yawned.
He stepped outside, scanning the yard. "Dad! Dad!" he called. When he turned to the right, he spotted Ruther sitting on the grass, gazing into the distance as the sunlight hit his face.
Riko stepped outside, scanning the yard.
"Dad! Dad!" he called out.
When he turned to the right, he spotted Ruther sitting on the grass, gazing into the distance as the sunlight bathed his face.
"There he is," Riko whispered.
He walked toward him, noticing how Ruther's robe fluttered gently in the breeze, the grass and his hair swaying with the wind.
Riko sat down beside him. "Good morning, Dad. What are you doing out here alone?"
"Oh, nothing… just enjoying the view" Ruther's voice softened. "Riko, Ever since I was a kid, your mother and I would sit here together and watch this view. You know, I always wanted to become an adventurer—and she insisted on coming with me. She never wanted me to go alone."
A faint chuckle escaped him. "She was stubborn as ever. But her smile… it was as bright as the sun. She was the most beautiful person I'd ever met. A rose that always bloomed in my eyes."
Riko blinked, surprised. For some reason, Ruther's words felt strangely familiar… like something from a distant memory.
But does that explain why she hits you? he thought, curious.
Ruther glanced at him with a knowing smile. "You're probably wondering why I let your mother hit me, huh? Simple. Because I'd never raise my hand to someone I love dearly. Especially my voice, Riko. Tell me—would you ever raise your hand and voice, to someone you love?"
Riko smiled softly as he turned his gaze toward the horizon. "No… never," he answered.
Why would I? I promised to protect those I love—not hurt them.
Ruther chuckled under his breath. "Of course not. I knew you wouldn't. You don't have that kind of heart. So remember this, Riko: in any relationship, never raise your hand to your partner… and especially never raise your voice. Because words can cut deeper than any blow ever could."
Riko's eyes widened, as if the words hit him like a hammer. The wind blew softly, rustling the leaves, as if nature itself leaned in to listen. Goosebumps pricked his skin.
"Dad… may I ask… what do you do when you can't do anything?" he whispered, hair lifting with the breeze.
Ruther turned toward him, a soft smile on his face, eyes reflecting the sunlight. "Then… do what you can do," he said gently.
Riko let the words settle. Somehow… that was enough.
Really…? Then I'll keep that in mind, Ruther.
Riko and Ruther gazed at the view, birds singing in the background. Riko stood up, looking at his father with determination.
"Dad, I want you to train me," Riko said, smiling confidently.
Ruther's eyes widened in surprise. He smirked, forcing himself back to his feet. "Heh… is that so? Then I'll do it. But tell me this—are you willing to give it your all?" he asked.
"Yes," Riko replied, his eyes flaring with determination.
Ruther smiled. "That's my boy. Then, by tomorrow morning, we're starting your training session."
Riko grinned, motivated to do whatever Ruther had in mind. He decided he would push past his limits. "Fine by me," he said.
From the distance, Rimara shouted, "Ruther! Riko! Breakfast is ready!"
Ruther and Riko turned to each other and smirked. "Let's head inside," Ruther said.
"Right," Riko replied.
After finish eating, I went to visit the field with Shizo, of course. We had some fun together, learning new types of magic. Then I headed back home to study more about magic. But until dinner… something happened to the village.
Riko, Ruther, and Rimara sat at the dinner table, eating peacefully as they talked.
Ruther looked at Rimara and decided to brag. "Guess what, dear? Riko wants to train with me," he smirked.
Rimara turned to Riko with a teasing smile. "Oh? Are you now? Wait… let me guess—hmmm, is it to impress that girl, Shizo?"
"HUH?! W-what? No… well, maybe, but I just want to get stronger, that's all," he replied, flushed with embarrassment.
"Oh, don't worry. I mean, that's normal. Men like to get stronger to impress women—" Before Ruther could finish, a violent knock sounded at the door.
Riko startled and turned. The hell? he thought.
"I'll go get that," Ruther said cautiously, walking toward the door and opening it.
A girl stood there, desperately pleading for help. "THE VILLAGE! IT'S UNDER ATTACK! My parents… they need help!" she cried.
"Attacked?! By what?" Ruther asked.
"OGRES! RED OGRES!" she shouted, fear evident in her voice.
Ruther's eyes widened. "WHAT?! What the hell are they doing here?"
"I don't know! They just appeared out of nowhere and attacked the village!" Her voice trembled.
Riko, concerned, walked up to Ruther. "Dad? What's wrong?" he asked.
"Riko, stay here with your mom. Meanwhile, I'm going," Ruther said, his tone serious and sincere.
Riko looked confused. Stay with her… for what?! Especially, going where?!
"Wait, dad!—" Before Riko could stop him, Ruther ran off at immense speed, pushing Riko back.
"OOF!" Riko crashed into the wall.
Rimara noticed and ran up to him, her face full of concern. "RIKO! Are you okay?!"
"Tch… ow…" Riko rubbed his head, forcing himself back up.
"Wait, Riko! You can't stand up, what if you're injured?!" she asked.
Riko's curiosity got the better of him. He had to know what was happening. He decided to step outside and take a peek.
The hell is happening?! All I heard was "red ogres" and "village"—wait, don't tell me…
As soon as he stepped outside, part of the village was engulfed in flames. His eyes widened, shocked by the sudden destruction.
No, the village…
Meanwhile, Ruther…
Ruther sprinted toward the village, his face slick with sweat, his heart pounding. Worry for the villagers burned in his chest.
Dammit… how the hell did they cross the border?! Tch… No time to question, I have to find out. Ruther thought.
As he arrived, his eyes widened in horror. Bodies were scattered across the ground, the scent of blood thick in the air. The flames of burning homes illuminated the crimson-stained streets.
"N–no… Dammit. I WAS TOO LATE," he whispered, his voice shaking with anger.
Unaware, an ogre appeared behind him—massive, snarling, its blade swinging down with brutal speed.
"Who said you could hurt my fellow villagers of Thornveil…"
Ruther's eyes ignited with a fiery blue glow. The ground trembled beneath him. In the next instant—
Without him moving an inch, the ogre's body was already shredded to pieces, cleaved apart by the sheer pressure of his aura.
He lowered his gaze to the fallen creature, his expression menacing and cold.
"I'll kill every single one of you damn pigs…" he muttered, voice dripping with fury.
Another ogre lunged from the side, swinging its massive blade straight for Ruther's head.
Ruther caught the strike with his bare hand, the impact cracking the air like thunder.
"Swing at my head, are we?" he growled, his grip tightening. "Then I shall do the same…"
In that instant, his aura exploded, blasting the ogre backward with a shockwave that rattled the ground.
The ogre staggered, its single eye widening in terror as it caught a glimpse of Ruther drawing his sword from his hip. His aura crackled violently, sparks of lightning dancing around him.
Then—Ruther vanished. The ground beneath him shattered.
Before the ogre could even react, its head was already separated from its body.
Ruther leaned close to the falling corpse and whispered coldly into its ear:
"Such a pity."
Ruther landed back on the ground as ten more ogres emerged from the shadows. He scoffed, rolling his shoulders.
"More ogres, huh? Heh… it's been years since I've had a real fight." His expression darkened, a wild grin spreading across his face. "YOU FILTHY PIGS!"
With that roar, his aura erupted, blasting outward with overwhelming intensity, shaking the ground beneath him.
Startled, the ogres charged all at once.
"URGAAAH!" they bellowed, swinging their massive blades in unison.
Ruther slipped between their strikes effortlessly, dodging each swing one by one. He swept his leg beneath a cluster of them, knocking several off balance.
He raised his hand as energy gathered at his palm, echoing through the air like a thunderclap.
"Veno Hashtenkai…"
A massive beam exploded from his hand, slamming into the nearest ogre. The blast tore through its body, disintegrating it into nothing as the ground fractured from the sheer recoil.
Suddenly, his instincts flared—an attack from behind.
"Guh!" He twisted, dodging at the last second. The blade sliced through the air, grazing the tip of his hair.
Ruther flipped onto his hands and kicked upward with explosive force, his heel crashing into the ogre's abdomen.
"HYAAH!" his yell echoed.
The ogre was sent flying like a cannonball, smashing through the wall of a nearby house with a thunderous crash.
Ruther then noticed even more ogres pouring in from the forest. A bead of sweat slid down his cheek—not from fear, but excitement. He grinned wildly, letting his robe slip off his shoulders and fall to the ground.
Cracking his neck and shoulders, he muttered, "Guess I've warmed up a bit… Now let's go all loose."
Meanwhile, back at the house…
Riko and Rimara stared in shock at the horrifying sight before them—the village engulfed in flames, smoke rising into the night sky.
Rimara's eyes widened as she collapsed to her knees, covering her mouth with trembling hands. "H-how could this be…" she whispered, her voice quivering.
Riko clenched his fists tightly, his eyes burning with determination. "Mom, stay here with the girl. I'll go help Dad," he said firmly.
Rimara snapped her head toward him, stunned by his sudden resolve.
"R-Riko, you can't! You're too young to fight those things!" she cried out.
Riko turned to her, his face serious and unwavering.
"Mom… sorry, but I have to help Dad."
Before she could react, he bolted toward the village. "W-wait, Riko!" Rimara reached out, but he was already gone—his figure disappearing into the distance.
Dammit, how the hell did this happen?! Ruther… don't you die on me… Riko thought, sweat dripping down his face as he sprinted toward the village.
Meanwhile, Ruther stood surrounded by a horde of ogres. Instead of fear, a confident smirk spread across his face.
The ogres roared and charged, their massive blades swinging down from every direction. Ruther dodged them all effortlessly, weaving through their attacks.
He lunged toward one of the ogres, grabbing it by the leg and spinning it around in a powerful whirlwind.
"HRAAAAH!!" he roared, his aura crackling like lightning. With a final swing, he hurled the ogre through the air with devastating force—its body smashed into another ogre, both collapsing in a heap.
"Pft… huh?" He sensed something behind him.
Before he could fully turn, an ogre tried to ambush him from behind—but Ruther reacted instantly, slicing it in half with a single clean motion, without even turning his head.
Blood splattered across his back.
"Sneaking up behind me, are we? Such a shame," he muttered coldly.
Suddenly, another ogre—faster than the rest—rushed him from the side. Its blow connected squarely with his face.
"URGH!!" Ruther grunted, the impact launching him through several trees with explosive force.
Ruther slowly rose to his feet, his body tensed, eyes locked on the ogre that had struck him. A cold, menacing glare burned in his gaze as his aura began swirling violently around him like a raging storm.
"Seems like you're the cause of this invasion…" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. His expression twisted into pure fury. "Because of you… you took the lives of MY PEOPLE!! You damn lord of the pigs."
With a deafening BOOM, Ruther vanished from sight—so did the ogre.
A shockwave ripped through the air as they reappeared mid-collision, fists clashing with brutal force. Sparks flew with every impact as they exchanged a flurry of precise blows, neither giving an inch.
Ruther ducked under a heavy swing, extended his hand, and with a WHIRRRR his sword came flying to him like a magnet, snapping into his grip.
The ogre snarled, drawing two jagged daggers from its waist.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Their blades clashed again and again in a furious dance, sparks bursting like fireworks around them.
"GRRRRRR!!! HRAAAAAH!!!" Ruther roared, his aura exploding outward, the ground beneath him cracking under the pressure. His presence alone became overwhelming, shaking the battlefield like an oncoming storm.
Ruther leapt back, landing firmly on the ground. His breaths slowed, his expression sharpening like a blade.
He brought his hands together—clap, clap, clash—forming a unique, intricate pattern.
The air around him began to shudder. His aura flared wildly, swirling like a raging cyclone, then condensed, sparkling with blinding intensity.
A sudden stillness fell. Even the flames around the burning village seemed to pause.
Ruther lowered his stance, his hair lifting as if weightless, eyes snapping wide open with a piercing glow. His voice echoed through the battlefield—calm, but terrifying.
"Let's see if you can survive this…"
He extended his right arm forward.
"Veno Ritugaru…"
The ground trembled beneath him as raw magical energy gathered, compressing into a roaring sphere of power.
The ogre's eyes widened in terror as the blinding beam surged toward it, tearing through the air with a deafening roar.
Instinctively, it thrust both arms forward, trying to block the oncoming blast. The shockwave blew back its hair and flesh, its feet digging trenches into the dirt as it fought against the overwhelming force.
Ruther narrowed his eyes, watching the creature desperately hold its ground. A cold smirk crept onto his face.
"Oh? So you resisted my attack, huh?"
His voice dropped, chilling and absolute.
"Who decided that…?"
In an instant, his aura flared brighter. He poured more mana into the beam, its light intensifying until it swallowed the entire battlefield.
The ogre let out a guttural roar, its body trembling under the crushing energy. But it was useless—its arms snapped back, and the beam devoured it completely, disintegrating the creature into nothing but drifting ashes.
The explosion's shockwave swept through the village, shaking the ground as Ruther stood firm.
Ruther noticed a new wave of ogres charging toward him, their roars shaking the night air. Instead of fear, a confident smirk spread across his face.
With a single thought, he gripped onto his sword, humming with power. "Just one swing… that's all I need for the likes of you."
He closed his eyes.
A deep breath.
The world seemed to still.
His aura began swirling wildly around him, bright blue sparks dancing like fireflies. His grip tightened on the hilt as the ogres closed in.
Ruther's eyes snapped open—glowing fiercely.
"Veno Lukmura…"
He swung his sword in a single, devastating arc.
A massive blue trail followed the blade, cutting through the air like a streak of lightning. The ogres froze mid-charge… and then—
SHING—
Their bodies split cleanly in half. A beat of silence. Then—
FWISHBOOOOM!
All at once, the ogres erupted into glowing blue ash, scattering into the night wind.
Ruther lowered his sword slowly, his eyes burning with battle-hardened resolve.
Meanwhile, Riko was sprinting through the burning fields when a sudden flash of brilliant blue light illuminated the night sky. A deafening explosion followed an instant later, the shockwave ruffling his hair and stirring the ashes around him.
What the…?
Unsure of what caused it, he fixed his eyes on the direction of the blast and picked up his pace. Dammit, was that Ruther's doing? he thought, sweat trickling down his face as his heart pounded with a mix of fear and determination.
After several minutes of running, Riko finally spotted a familiar figure in the distance. "He's there!" he shouted, panting as he forced his legs to move faster.
Ruther, still on alert, turned toward the sound of his voice. His eyes widened. "R-Riko?! What are you doing here?!" he barked, his tone firm and demanding.
Riko stumbled to a stop, chest heaving. "S-sorry, Dad… I just… came to help you…" His words trailed off as his gaze swept the battlefield.
Not a single ogre remained.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "D-Dad… did you kill them all?" he asked nervously, sweat sliding down his cheek.
Ruther's grin stretched wide, teeth gleaming like a hero from an old tale. "Sure did! Pretty cool, huh?" he said proudly, striking a confident pose.
Riko's face went pale. He suddenly remembered the promise he'd made to train with him tomorrow.
Ah, shit… Ruther, please I beg of you to go easy on me tomorrow, he thought, dread sinking in like a stone in his stomach.